drop one's beads
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To reveal one's homosexuality.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
But they will “drop their beads” (as queens used to say) one by one, until the full necklace lies on the floor. He'll mention he likes the ballet, you'll tell him of your interest in opera.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “drop one's beads” mean?
To reveal one's homosexuality.
Is “drop one's beads” formal or informal?
drop one's beads is generally slang.